Clothespins



F. C. URICH June 13, 1961 CLOTHESPINS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1959 I g 3 Z 4 o "llwml y 1 2 44 4 i B @fmW\ INVENTOR.

FEEDEZ/CK C. 6/2/04 June 13, 1961 F. c. URlCH 2,988,314

CLOTHESPINS Filed April 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent C) 2,988,314 CLOTHESPINS Frederick C. Urich, Sangre Grande, Trinidad, British West Indies Filed Apr. '10, 1959, Ser. No. 805,400 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-214) This invention relates to article supporting means and, more specifically, the instant invention pertains to clothespins.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide clothespins with clamping jaws at one or both ends thereof.

Another object of this invention is to form clothespins of the type generally described above which may be molded of a resilient plastic or other suitable materials.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clothespin or hanger of a single unit having clamping jaws at one end thereof and, optionally, through the utilization of a second unit identically constructed, to assemble the pair of units in such a manner as to provide a clothespin or hanger having clamping jaws at each end thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clothespin with clamping jaws resiliently biased for movement towards each other, the jaws being pivotally supported one on the other.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of clothespin devices and related hanger means which are non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and which are durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the follo'wing specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one unit of the clothespin device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a pair of units of the type illustrated in FIGURE 1, assembled for use as a clothespin, the clothespin being provided with clamping jaws at its opposed ends, FIGURE 2 illustrating the clothespin with the clamping jaws in their closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but illustrating the clamping jaws in their open inoperative position when the same are flexed away from each other;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 4--4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 55 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the unit illustrated in FIGURE 1 and illustrating a second embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a second unit constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a plurality of the units shown in FIGURE 7, FIGURE 8 illustrating the unit of FIGURE 7 as rings for holding shower curtains and the like; and

FIGURE 9 is an end elevational view of one of the units illustrated in FIGURE 8, partially broken away, FIGURE 9 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically td FIGURES 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a unit so constructed as to form in and ice 2 of itself a clothespin, or optionally, the unit may be placed in association with a second identically constructed unit to form, when assembled, a clothespin having clamping jaws at each end thereof, all as will be explained in detail below.

The unit '10 is I CI'OSs section and includes a main body portion 12 having inner and outer walls 14, 16 maintained in spaced relation relative to each other by means of an integrally formed centrally positioned web 18.

As is seen in the several figures referred to above, the web 18 extends longitudinally between the side walls 14, 16 throughout their respective length. The remotely disposed ends of the side wall 16 terminates in reverted end portions 20, 22, and the web 18 is increased in thickness to substantially the width of the side wall 16 to form reinforcing bosses 24, 26 adjacent each end of the unit 10.

The boss 24 is provided with an inwardly opening sub stantially spherical socket 28 and the boss 26 is formed with a laterally projecting substantially spherical male connector member 30 supported in spaced relation relative thereto on a neck 32.

The bosses 24, 26 are integrally connected with end extensions 34, 36 of the side wall 14, the end extensions generally converging toward the side wall 16 and are formed with reverted terminal ends 38, 40 integrally connected with the reverted ends 20, 22 to form clamping jaws A and B. The end extensions 34, 36 are formed with a plurality of transversely extending spaced and parallel friction ribs 42, 44, and integrally spaced therefrom and located adjacent the bosses 26, are pairs of substantially semi-circular transversely extending grooves 46, 48 of which the diameters of the grooves 48 are greater than the diameters of the grooves 46.

It should be observed that the side walls 14, 16 are bowed in the same direction to provide an increase in the (flexibility of each unit 10 in a manner to be described below, and that the jaws A, B are inclined inwardly towards each other.

The unit 10 may be used to form a clothespin or hanger having a single pair of clamping jaws, or optionally, the same may be assembled with another identically constructed unit to form a clothespin or hanger having two pairs of clamping jaws. FIGURES 2 to 5, inclusive, illustrate the latter embodiment.

As seen therein, two of the units 10 have been placed in juxtaposition with the socket 28 and the connector 30 of one of the units 10 disposed in registry with the connector 30 and socket 28 of the other of the units 10. The connectors 30 are then pressed or snapped into the sockets 28 to pivotally connect the clamping jaws A and B together at both ends of the now completed clothespin or hanger designated at 50. If desired, and as a further refinement, the outer sides of the side walls 16 may be roughened as at 52 to provide a better friction grip.

In the construction described above, the clamping jaws A and B of one unit 10 confront and engage, respectively, the clamping jaws, B and A of the other unit 10 when the hanger 50 is inoperative. When it is desired to utilize the hanger 50 the operator grips the two remotely disposed side walls 16 between his thumb and fingers (see FIGURE 3) adjacent the main body portions 12 and squeezes the same towards each other. This causes distortion of the latter and causes each pair of adjacent .jaws A 'and B to pivot away from each other to their open position to receive an article to be supported or clamped therebetween. Release of the pressure on the side wall 16 permits the adjacent pairs of jaws A, B to flex towards each other to firmly clamp the article therebetween. At the same time, the main body portions 12 resume their original undistorted positions.

As is seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the male connectors 30 extend a sunlcienr distance into the sockets 28 to prevent disconnection therebetween while the jaws A and B pivot on the lines 54, 56 of the bosses 26, 28 as a fulcrum. 7

he Clothespin o an a 50 m e su po e Q a line or {rod (not shown) which may extend between the ad jacent main body portions 12 or the device may be connected with a clothesline (not shown) the latter being engaged between selected pairs of confronting semi-circular grooves 46 48. b

A second embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGURE 6 wherein a single one of the units comprises the hanger 50 per se. In this construction it is seen that the flexibility of the unit 10 is sufficiently great so as to permit the deformation of the main body portion 12 to bring the remotely disposed jaws A, B into abutting relation and to interlock the male connector 30 in the socket 28 in the manner described above to form a clothespin or hanger having a single pair of clamping jaws A, B. The operation and utility of this hanger is, as has been described above.

FIGURES 7 to 9 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention. As shown therein the hanger is designated by reference numeral 70 and comprises a main body portion 71 having a pair of spaced side walls 72, 74 separated by a centrally located longitudinally extending web 76 and bosses or blocks 78, 80 integral therewith and spaced inwardly from each end of the hanger. The blocks have extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom solid end portions 82, 84. Projecting laterally from the end portion 82 is an article supporting pin 86 which is adapted to be releasably received within a bore 88 extending transversel y through the end portion 84.

The block 78 is formed with a laterally projecting neck 90 which supports a substantially spherical male connector 92 which is adapted for insertion in a spherical socket 94, formed in the boss 80.

One use of this hanger is illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 where it is seen that the hanger 70 has its main body portion '71 flexed around a support rod 96 with the male connector 92 engaged in the socket 94 and lock therein, with the pin 86 engaged in the bore 88. The user now grips opposed sides of the side wall 74 to cause the solid end portions 82, 34 to pivot away from each other, in the manner described above to effect withdrawal of the pin 86 from the bore 88. A grommet 102 of the article to be supported, for example, a curtain or drape 104 is then passed over the pin 86 and pressure on the side wall 74 is released so that the pin 86 re-enters thebore -88.

v It will be immediately recognized that a pair of the hangers 70 couldbe connected in the manner described and illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

, ,Having described and illustrated several embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the same are offered merely by way of example, and that the instant invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

-What is claimed is:

1. An article support comprising an elongated resilient and bendable longitudinally bowed main portion, blocks on and extending longitudinally outwardly from the ends of said main portion, said main portion having a concave side, said blocks having inner faces at the concave side of the main portion, and means for separably connecting the blocks together, with the inner sides of the blocks in facing and-registered relationship and with said main portion arcuately bent and under tension, and article supporting means on and extending longitudinally outwardly from said blocks.

article support comprising an elongated resilient and bendable longitudinally bowed main portion, blocks on and extending longitudinally outwardly from the ends of said main portion, said main portion having a concave side, said blocks having inner faces at the concave side of the main portion, and means for separably connecting the blocks together, with the inner sides of the blocks in facing and registered relationship and with saidmain portion arcuately bent and under tension, and article supporting means on and extending longitudinally outwardly from said blocks, said connecting means comprising a neck fixed on one block and projecting inwardly from its inner face and terminating in an enlarged head, and a socket in-theother block opening to its face and adapted to s'ec'urably receive said head.

3. An article support comprising an elongated resilient and bendable longitudinally bowed main portion, blocks on and extending longitudinally outwardly from the ends of said mainportio'n, said main portion having a concave side, said blocks having inner faces at the concave side of the main portion, and means for separably .connecting the blocks together, With the inner sides of the blocks in facing and registered relationship and withsaid main portion arcuately bent and under tension, and article supporting means on and extending longitudinally outwardly from said blocks, said article supporting means comprising longitudinal extensions of said'blocks, a pin fixed on and extending inwardly from oneexten'sion and a bore extending through the other extension through Whi'ch'said pin is adapted to engage, manual compression together of opposed portions of the bent main portion serving to disengage the head from the socket and subsequent relaxation of the main portion serving to disengage said pin from the bore.

"4. An article support comprising an elongated resilient and bendable longitudinally bowed main portion, blocks on and extending longitudinally outwardly from the ends of said mainportion, said main portion having a concave side, said blocks having inner faces at the concave "side of the main portion, and means for separably connecting the blocks together, with the inner sides of theblocks in facing and registered relationship and with said main portion arcuately bent and under tension, and article supporting means on and extending longitudinally outwardly from said blocks, said connecting means comprising a neck fixed on one block and projecting inwardly from its inner face and terminating in an enlarged head, and a socket in the other block opening to its face and adapted to securably receive said head, said article supporting means comprising longitudinal extensions of said blocks, said extensions having article gripping faces at the concave side of said main portion, said gripping faces being registered and opposed while said head is engaged in said socket,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 136,737 Woock Nov. 30, 1943 572,441 Munson Dec; 1, 1896 2,320,308 Silverman May 25, 1943 2,503,435 Chester Apr. '11, 1 950 2,572,103 Bo'r'st Oct. 23, 1951 2,714,269 Charles Aug. 2, 1955 2,783,515 Tobias Mar. 5, 1957 2,885,758 Russo et al. May 12, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,368 Switzerland Mar. 14,1912 91,322 Norway Mar..31, 1958 220,167 Germany Mar. 16, 1910 

